Purpose: The aim of this report is to review (i) safety and efficacy and (ii) medical marketing and regulation of Glucos Cut (GC) Tea.
Methodology: The electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE via EBSCOhost were searched with no limit to year of publication. Additional information was obtained from the Micromedex, “Medicines (Advertisement and Sales) Act 1956” and the “Guideline on Advertising of Medicines and Medicinal Products to General Public 2006.”
Results: Of total 28 articles reviewed, only 20 relevant full-text articles were obtained and reviewed. GC Tea consists of five different herbs, i.e. green tea, Gymnema sylvestre, mulberry leaf, rooibos tea, and stevia. Green tea, mulberry leaf, and rooibos tea were reported to be effective at improving lipid profile and also exhibit a good antioxidant property. Review also found that G. sylvestre has a sweet suppression activity while stevia showed a significant reduction in postprandial glucose. All these five herbs were reported to have minimal adverse effect, which make it safe for human consumption. GC Tea is categorized as a drinking supplement, which is controlled by the Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health. Hence, it does not need to be registered with the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau.
Conclusion: GC Tea has benefits in reducing risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. GC Tea also has antioxidant properties that help reduce risk of cancer. Only mild adverse effects were reported when consuming these herbs in recommended dose.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a product named acai berry ABC and to understand the marketing issues implemented by this product.
Methodology: A review regarding registration of product was conducted by examining the registration in Pharmaceutical Division Services, Ministry of Health of Malaysia and the profile of product was evaluated by assessing the online MIMS. Besides that, an electronic search was conducted through searching at Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed to assess the safety and efficacy of the product. Malaysia Advertisement Board was referred to evaluate the marketing issue in acai berry ABC.
Results: According to Pharmaceutical Division Services, Ministry of Health, acai berry ABC is listed under product adulterated with poison which is contained sibutramine as an active ingredient which is against the Sale of Drugs Act 1952. Acai berry ABC widely advertised throughout social media such as Facebook, website services, and online marketing. Thus, there are a few issues related to marketing that against the Medicine Advertisement Board. Moreover, a review on safety and efficacy of sibutramine reported that sibutramine is effective in weight loss and it also may increase slightly in blood pressure (BP). Sibutramine should be used cautiously in patients with borderline or high BP. However, the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcome Trial (SCOUT) trial showed that long-term use of sibutramine among the subject with cardiovascular disease had a risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke, but not of cardiovascular death or death from any cause. Due to SCOUT trial, physician and pharmacist are recommended by the European Medicine Agency have to stop selling products containing sibutramine. Malaysia also banned this product since 2010. However, still there is a company selling the herbal weight loss product adulterated with sibutramine such as acai berry ABC.
Conclusions: Ministry of Health has banned the selling of acai berry ABC in Malaysia due to adulteration with sibutramine which may risk and harmful to cardiovascular disease patient. As for Malaysian, it is not safe to consume the product that contains with control poison without consultation from physician or pharmacist. It is a pharmacist responsibility to educate people to consume an only product that registered with Ministry of Health. Malaysian should always consult with a physician or pharmacist if any confusion regarding any product that they have been consumed.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a product containing Stevia rebaudiana and its related marketing restriction governed by laws.
Methods: An electronic search was conducted through searching at Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PUBMED to assess the literature of Stevia rebaudiana.
Results: Stevia was considered safe to be used as sugar substitution in patients with diabetes. No serious adverse events and health risk were reported. However, until now, most of the beneficial results were from the study conducted in short-term. Not many studies conducted to assess the health risk of consuming stevia for long-term effect. Therefore, consumers must be warned to used stevia product cautiously and not exceed the recommended dose as instructed. No definite findings yet regarding dose range, minimum and maximum, to achieve optimal outcome and avoid risk of hypoglycemia.
Conclusion: Although some countries still banned the use of stevia since lack of toxicology profile, it was credited with the various health benefits. The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives revealed that stevia extracts containing 95% steviol glycosides are safe for human use in the range of 4 mg/kg of body weight/day.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the uses of products containing Garcinia cambogia to burn fat and suppressed the appetite.
Introduction: The availability and popularity of natural dietary supplements for the treatment of obesity have risen dramatically in recent years. Investigation and analysis on the efficacy and effectiveness of the G. cambogia are challenging. Furthermore, consuming the products that claimed the anti-obesity effect without a strong judgment is not an appropriate way to losing weight. The overweight prevalence of 29.71% for the Malaysian adults aged 18–59 years indicates that the overweight problem in Malaysia is almost as serious as that for the developed countries.
Methodology: An electronic search of PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Clinical Key for studies, case report, trials and reviews using the following search criteria. Examining the product registration in Pharmaceutical Division Services, Ministry of Health. The Malaysian Advertisement Board was referred.
Results: Consumers in Malaysia most likely tend to have a fast method in losing the weight. When the product is advertised inappropriately without any strong evidence based, the Malaysian society is solely at risk in buying the product that does not have a confirmed effectiveness and efficacy. The doubts in using G. cambogia are because the marketed product is there is no single formulation that contains only G. Cambogia.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a product containing Pegaga and to understand the related marketing issues.
Methodology: A review regarding registration of product was conducted by examining the registration in National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB), Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malaysia and the profile of product was evaluated by assessing the online MIMS, Micromedex, and www.globinmed.com. Besides that, an electronic search was conducted through searching at ScienceDirect, EMBASE, CINAHL to assess the safety and efficacy of the product. Malaysia Advertisement Board was referred to evaluate the marketing issue using Dimaz Kapsul Herbanika Pegaga Plus as a case example.
Results: According to (NPCB), (MOH), Dimaz Kapsul Herbanika Pegaga Plus is listed under traditional product with registration number “MAL13095058T.” They claimed this product contained herbs called Centella asiatica and have many indications as their advertisement. Dimaz Kapsul Herbanika Pegaga Plus widely advertised throughout social media such as Facebook, website services, and online marketing. Thus, there are a few issues related to marketing that against the Medicine Advertisement Board. Moreover, a review on safety and efficacy of C. asiatica from study on human reported that C. asiatica is effective in enhanced working memory, for improvement of the signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, reducing the sensory symptoms in diabetic mellitus neuropathy, and improves physical performance in elderly. Study on animal and in vitro reported C. asiatica have an anti-tumor effect, anti-nociceptive effects, wrong healing property, antigenotoxic effect, and reduce blood glucose by demonstrate glucose-fiber binding.
Conclusions: Most traditional products claim contained herbs and have many indication although not proven by evidence based. Hence, consumers must be more selective before buying any health products. MOH continuing demonstrate enforcement action and educating the public in this matter. More research also must be conducted to confirm the efficacy and the appropriate dose for a particular situation either for prevention or treatment of disease.

The efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia based on relevant studies and reviews are described. M. charantia also known as bitter melon has been proposed to exert effects in lowering blood glucose levels by means of various forms and extracts from the plant. Over the years, commercially available preparations containing bitter melon are made available in the market despite limitations on available clinical trials. Clinical trial conducted demonstrates variety in findings on the effect of M. charantia on glycemic control with mostly not exhibiting statistically significant differences. Monitoring is vital in view of the reported side effects and precaution warranted for the specific individuals and unknown herbal-drug or herbal-food interaction that could possibly interrupt the overall management plan. For the meantime, findings generated from the studies only provide implication on the potential advantages that M. charantia offers in preventing and managing type 2 diabetes as well as the microvascular complications instead of a certain conclusion.

Eurycoma longifolia (commonly called tongkat ali) is a flowering plant in the family Simaroubaceae, native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and, to a lesser extent, Thailand, Vietnam and also Laos. The roots extract of E. longifolia, is a well-known traditional herbal medicine in Asia used for many purposes such as sexual dysfunction, aging, malaria, cancer, diabetes, anxiety, aches, constipation, exercise recovery, fever, increased energy, increased strength, leukemia, osteoporosis, stress, syphilis and glandular swelling. The roots are also used as an aphrodisiac, antibiotic, appetite stimulant and health supplement. It is very important to conserve this valuable medicinal plant for the health benefit of future generations. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate and summarize the existing literatures regarding the efficacy and safety of products which contain E. longifolia as its main ingredient. In summary, based on the literature evaluated in this review article, products which contain tongkat ali showed a clinical benefit on improving erectile dysfunction as well as a good safety profile. We recommend consumers to check the level of the bioactive compound “eurycomanone” as their guide before choosing any E. longifolia product.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the usage of tranexamic acid as skin whitening and melasma therapy.
Methodology: An electronic search on PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library with keywords “tranexamic acid,” “oral,” “systemic,” “whitening,” “lightening,” and “melasma” was carried out. The literatures are summarized in the evidence tables. Further search on PBAC, UK, NFSA, SMC, CEDAC, MIMS, and Micromedex was performed for listing reviews of tranexamic acid.
Results: The data available are not scientifically proven to demonstrate the role of tranexamic acid as an effective treatment for melasma therapy and whitening agent.
Conclusions: As a conclusion, due to the lack of data, it was not possible to reach a conclusion on the use of tranexamic acid as cosmetic products, especially with systematic usage.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the therapeutic effect of sea cucumber. It is a traditional medicine used for centuries as a general tonic to improve the health of the body and to boost the energy levels.
Methodology: An electronic search on PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library with keywords “sea cucumber”, “gamat”, “effectiveness OR efficacy”,“safety OR adverse reaction OR side effects” was carried out. The literatures are summarized in the evidence tables.
Findings and conclusions: Most sea cucumbers species have been validated through scientific and ethnopharmacological research and have shown to have medicinal value such as anti-angiogenic, anticancer, anticoagulant antihypertension, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antithrombotic, and antitumor. The discovery of bioactive compounds and therapeutic properties isolated from sea cucumber such as chondroitin sulfate, triterpene glycosides (saponins), lectins, heparin, cerebrosides, gangliosides, bioactive peptides, sterols, and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids leads to potential drug development in various pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, functional foods, and nutraceuticals industries. However, further clinical trials are still needed which could transform the bioactive compound from sea cucumber extraction into a drug that could be a cure for certain disease.

Labisia pumila is a traditional medicinal plant which has wide therapeutic application including induction of labor and treatment of dysentery, dysmenorrhea and gonorrhea. We aimed for systematic review of the efficacy andsafety of L. pumila extract or its other commercial products availabe in Malaysian market. The marketed 500 mg capsule is composed of 40 mg L. pumila, 10 mg C. caudatum extract and 450 mg excipient. The commercial products did not follow the registration guidelines of Malaysian National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) and advertisement guidelines of Malaysian Advertisement Board. Randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials reported the safe consumpotion of L. pumila water extract on postmanoposal women. Information on the efficacy and safety of commercial products are not sufficiently available. Many unregistered products (mostly capsule form) are flooded in Malaysian market without having scientific information. Consumption of those products may seriously impair the health of the people.

Glutathione is a potent antioxidant as well as has important role for DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, amino acid transport, and enzyme activation. Besides this, Glutathione products are now mainly selling as whitening agent which are mainly marketing through social media (Facebook) and different websites. Information is not available whether glutathione product are following the regulatory guidelines of National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau of Malaysia (NPCB) for selling, advertisement and promotion. This review was carried out by extracting information about glutathione from scientific database using PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase. Analysis of the available information, case example of glutathione products showed that a brand of glutathione (Glutacaps HQ) did not show the product's registration number from NPCB, and also did not show the name, address, contact number of the advertiser, and even not found the name of the manufacture. Without providing the above mentioned information, the product is selling and promoting through social media (fb) which is not allowed by the NPCB guidelines part 4.14. So far, only two clinical trials were conducted on glutathione supplementation for 4 weeks duration. There was no serious or systematic adverse effects reported in clinical trials. As the two clinic trials resulted contradictory outcomes, further studies needed for conformation of the clinic benefits of glutathione. Otherwise, random use of glutathione may be risk for the health of the people. Besides, the marketer mainly promoting glutathione as the skin whitening beauty product instead of using as health supplement, it may cause additional and serious risk to the users as the manufacturer not providing sufficient information about the product, its registration number, manufacturing company, etc.

Panax ginseng is categorized as parental herb tribe to Asian people, particularly to Korea and China and it is widely used as an alternative remedy in Eastern Asia countries since many years ago. Based on traditional practice and recent research on this ancient herb, all parts of the ginseng contain pharmacologically active elements; however, it has been found that the main ingredient comes from its roots has a numerous compounds and chemicals that can exert the pharmacological properties such as lowering blood glucose, lowering hypertension, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic agents, anti-stress, improve vitality, sexual dysfunctions, and promote healing process; thus, it is also called as modern tonic traditional complementary medicine. However, some modern research has identified that it can cause severe side effects such as mental disorder, hypertensions, bleeding allergy reactions, and renal toxicity. Therefore, the use of this herb among public is not recommended because there is not definite dose for human.